In honor of Prematurity Awareness Day, I thought I would post about the journey I had with the boys. I typed this up for one of my friends, who is using it for a presentation on TTTS, Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome. Thought I should share, since a lot of you don't know the whole story!
I had my first ultrasound at 8 weeks, where they told me
that I was having twins, and referred me to a high-risk doctor here in BG. The
next week, I went for an ultrasound with the high-risk dr., where they told me
that my twins were identical twins. While, it is a great blessing, it also came
with great risk, including TTTS. Dr. Lombarti sat my husband and me down and
explained to us what TTTS was, and what could happen if it were to happen to my
babies. After further ultrasounds, they found that my BOYS had their own
amniotic sac, but of course in the same placenta, so I was not AS high risk as
I could have been, although TTTS was still a great possibility. From 8 weeks on
to week 30 weeks, I had an ultrasound every 2 weeks and after that every week
to check the growth and fluid levels. I was already scheduled to have a
c-section on May 2nd and would have been a little over 37 weeks,
which is a week past full term for multiples. I went in for a untrasound with
Dr. Lombarti on April 26th, where they discovered that Brady (Baby
B) had gained nearly a pound in a week, and Conner (Baby A) had remained the
same. I knew as soon as the US started
that something was wrong, because she measured Brady several times over and over,
and I noticed that he was measuring nearly a week ahead of Conner. The
ultrasound tech left me to go call Dr. Lombarti, who then called my OBGYN, Dr.
Stice, who told me to not eat or drink anything for the rest of the day,
because he had to deliver the babies TODAY!
I, of course freaked out!!! I called my mom, who started crying and then
had her call everyone else, because I couldn’t talk. So my husband and I went
to the mall and walked for 2 hours before we had to be back in Labor and
Delivery.
At 3:00, I checked in and by 5:00,
the anesthesiologist had been in to tell me how everything was going to happen,
my OBGYN came by to check on me and let me know what was going on, and of
course ALL of my family was there. At 6:00 they took me to the OR and gave me
my epideral, and at 6:35, I heard the most amazing sound ever!!! Conner (Baby
A) had entered the world. They immediately gave him to my husband as they took
out Brady (Baby B) at 6:36. I noticed that Brady did not cry, and later found
out that he was not breathing when he came out. They rushed Brady to NICU and
Phillip and Conner left, as I went to recovery.
They were diagnosed with TTTS, and
I was told the Conner was the donor and Brady was the receiver. Conner was born
4 lbs. 8.5 oz. and 17 ¾ inches long and Brady was 5 lbs. 10.3 oz. and 18 inches
long. Although Brady was bigger, he had to spend 4 days in NICU, while Conner
got to stay in the regular nursery. They told me this was due to the fact that
while in the womb, Conner had to fight to survive, because Brady was taking all
the nutrients, therefore he was stronger, and Brady was “fat and lazy”, because
he did not have to fight as hard to survive. He only had to spend 1 day on a
C-Pap, the rest of the time was observation and teaching him to swallow. My
boys were born at 35 weeks gestation, and luckily only had to stay in the
hospital one day past the typical time for c-sections. I am extremely lucky
that they did not develop TTTS until later on in the pregnancy, and I am so
thankful for the wonderful people at the high-risk facility and NICU for taking
such great care of my babies. According to their 4-month checkup, they weigh 14
lbs. 15 oz. and 15 lbs. 14 oz. They are now nearly 7 months old, and growing
and learning new things every single day!
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| Me and My boys on leaving day |
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| My sweet boys first time meeting each other... Brady on the left, Conner on the right |
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| My first time seeing my Conner. I was in CCU with blood pressure problems. |
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| My sweet Brady after he finally got rid of that mean ole C-Pap |
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| Look at the difference 6 months makes! |
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| First time together |
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| My silly boys happy and healthy! |
